France Lacets de Montvernier
Lacets de Montvernier Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

6.3
PDI
2.1 mi
DISTANCE
917 ft
GAINED
8.1 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
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Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Montreux, Switzerland

INTRO

Lacets de Montvernier is a short, steep climb in France's Maurienne Valley (Savoie), switchbacking up a cliff face above the village of Montvernier via 17 hairpin turns packed into just 1.9 kilometers at an 8.7% average grade - one of the most photographed roads in cycling.

What makes it famous isn't length or difficulty (most riders are up in 15-20 minutes), but the visual: from a distance, the road looks like a series of tight laces sewn up the mountainside, and nearly every switchback opens onto sweeping views back over the Maurienne Valley. Traffic is light and the base sits right in town, so it feels more like a scenic detour than an expedition.

The Tour de France has climbed it three times (2015, 2018, 2022), most often continuing on toward Col du Telegraphe or the longer Col du Chaussy, which shares the same base and overlaps this route for its first few kilometers. It's an easy add-on for anyone climbing Col du Chaussy or passing through en route to nearby giants like Col du Galibier or Col de la Croix de Fer.

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Short and sharp: the average grade is 8.1% over 2.1 miles (8.7% for the 17-hairpin section itself, which covers just 1.9 kilometers). There's no flat section to recover on - the road climbs steadily from the first hairpin to the last, with the tightly stacked switchbacks near the base being the steepest and most technical part of the ride.

Roadway: Narrow, well-paved mountain road carved into a cliff face, with a sheer drop on the outside of several hairpins - stunning to look at but requires full attention. 

Traffic: Light overall; more motorcycles and cyclists than cars on weekends, since this is primarily a tourist and cycling destination rather than a through-route. 

Parking: There is street parking in the town at the base of the climb, near the junction with the D1006.

This is a short climb (under 2 miles), so no special gearing or provisions are required - standard road gearing is fine for the 8-9% pitches. There are no services directly on the climb itself; fuel up in town beforehand. Many riders combine this short, punchy climb with the longer Col du Chaussy just beyond Montvernier for a fuller day out.

Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.

Lacets de Montvernier sits in the Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne climbing area, one of the greatest concentrations of famous bike climbs in the world - Col de la Croix de Fer, Col de la Madeleine, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier, and Col de la Loze are all within a short drive. Because this climb is so short, it's best treated as a scenic detour or photo stop on a bigger day rather than a destination ride on its own - pair it with Col du Chaussy or one of the nearby cols for a fuller route. Base yourself in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to access the whole area.

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MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Moderate
5/5
Road
5/5
Traffic
5/5
Scenery

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Jun 5, 2024
difficulty: Moderate
scenery: 5
traffic: 5
road: 5
Jun 5, 2024
scenery: 5
traffic: 5
road: 5
A short, fun climb with a decent grade to it. I stopped here on my drive to Col du Galibier (Valloire) and it was well worth it. Very scenic. Very light traffic on a Saturday in the late morning at the very beginning of the summer. Way more motorcycles and bicycles during my ride than cars. Easy to combine with Col du Chaussy if looking for something more challenging. I highly recommend this climb for the hairpins and scenery.
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Lacets de Montvernier

Ride 3.4 kilometers gaining 280 meters at 8.1% average grade.

Lacets de Montvernier is a series of switchbacks that ascend a cliff face in the Maurienne Valley in Savoie, France. This road, though not as long or as high as many famous cycling routes in the Alps, has gained considerable fame and popularity among cyclists due to its distinct appearance and the technical challenge it presents.

The climb begins just northeast of E70 and D1006 near Pontamafrey, six kilometers north of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.

This is one of the world class road bike climbs in the Saint Jean de Maurienne Climb Zone. Some of the most famous bike climbs are found within a 25 kilometer straight-line radius of this climb, including Col de Croix de Fer, Col de la Madeleine, Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier, Col de la Loze, and the start of Alpe d’Huez is 60 kilometers as the crow flies.

The shorter Lacets de Montvernier route overlaps the longer Col du Chaussy climb.  The 2022 Tour de France route climbed Lacets de Montvernier, but turned right and headed toward Col du Télégraphe at the town of Vernier instead of traveling northerly on to Col du Chaussy.

Well . . . it’s not called Lacets de Montvernier for nothing . . .

The striking visual feature of Lacets de Montvernier is the 17 hairpin bends compressed into such a short climb. From a distance, the road appears to be a series of tight laces running up the side of the mountain.This is one of the greatest hairpin climbs in the world, with an astounding 17 lacets in just 1.9 kilometers at 8.7% average grade.

Wonderful views southeast of the Maurienne Valley as we wind our way up the mountains.

Turn left in Montvernier onto D77 at kilometer 3.5 to continue on to Col du Chaussy.

The road is very narrow with a sheer cliff to the right for 100 kilometers at km 9

Nearing the finish.

Col du Chaussy

TOUR DE FRANCE

Lacets de Montvernier has been included in the Tour de France 3 times as of 2023 (2015, 2018 and 2022).  The tour has never included Col du Chaussy on the heels of Lacets de Montvernier.

Stage 18 of the 2015 Tour de France - Lacets de Montvernier

Stage 19 of the 2015 Tour de France - Col du Chaussy.

Stage 12 of the 2018 Tour de France - Lacets de Montvernier

Stage 11 of the 2022 Tour de France - Lacets de Montvernier

Remnants from the 2022 TdF.